ALL NOVEL chapter 13
Chapter 13
The Special Officer Academy of the United Synthesis of Humanity is divided into two main branches.
The Special Officer Academies in the Central, Eastern, Western, Southern, and Northern regions, which train officers to serve in the ‘Federal Army.’
And the Special Officer Academies on each planet, which prepare officers for the ‘Defense Forces.’
Of course, there are also non-commissioned officer schools that train special non-commissioned officers and general officer academies, among others. Yet, regardless of their true feelings, there was one undeniable truth they all accepted.
That is, the “Central Special Officer Academy” is the most prestigious of all the academies.
Naturally, the scale of applications is beyond imagination.
It is no wonder that every faction pays more attention to the Central Special Officer Academy than to any other place.
“To have toppled a training hall is merely a minor incident.”
Jin Crow sat in the instructor’s room, gazing at Dokoran, who knelt with a tear-streaked face, hands raised, and at the side of her, the composed Pamiyu.
“So, you got angry for listing your name without permission for the assignment and followed her, while Cadet Pamiyu headed to the training hall to avoid causing trouble elsewhere. Is that correct?”
“…Well, um. Ugh.”
Still, there was a flicker of awareness in Dokoran about the trouble she had caused, as she lowered her head like a puppy that had caught its tail.
In contrast, Pamiyu stood quite confidently.
“Yes, that is correct, Instructor.”
There was likely no lie in her words.
Even based on the personalities of the two as seen in the original work, the conclusion remained the same.
Tap, tap—.
Jin Crow alternated his gaze between the kneeling Dokoran and the politely standing Pamiyu, lightly drumming his fingers on the armrest of the leather chair.
“First, Cadet Dokoran.”
“Yes!”
“Stand up.”
“Yes, sir!”
Dokoran, glancing nervously, responded with a lively voice and rose from her position.
For the record, kneeling was something she had done of her own accord.
“You may leave.”
“Th-then?”
A flicker of hope crossed her mind.
But he shook his head and said,
“Go to the military police and receive your demerits.”
“Huh?”
Was his answer unexpected?
Dokkoran blinked, his black eyes shimmering with a hint of crimson, before nodding with a suddenly brightened face.
“Th-thank you!”
Then, as if fearing a reversal, he bowed deeply at a ninety-degree angle and hurried out of the instructor’s office.
At that moment, as Jin Crow was about to harbor doubts, he noticed that Pamiu, who had been standing silently, wore a similarly surprised expression.
‘Why is that?’
Dokkoran. Was there any reason he shouldn’t take a liking to her?
As such thoughts flitted through his mind, a certain rumor suddenly crossed his consciousness.
—I’ve heard that if someone doesn’t like you, they’ll draw their sword, regardless of whether you’re a cadet or an instructor.
‘Dokkoran. Now that I think about it.’
It felt as if the pieces of a puzzle were finally falling into place.
When Dokkoran was a cadet, she had shown a fleeting interest in Jin Crow.
And given her reckless nature, it was highly likely that this ‘interest’ had ruffled Jin Crow’s feathers.
“……”
When he lifted his gaze, Pamiu’s peculiar blue eyes were fixed on him.
As if she were observing something alien, Jin Crow found himself blurting out a half-hearted excuse.
“I was just too lazy to deal with it.”
……Was it still the effect of the awakening agent?
The words he had let slip were far too cutting.
Yet in that moment, Jin Crow found himself genuinely despairing over his reputation.
“……Yes. Well.”
The tension in Pamiu’s blue eyes, which had been laced with strange suspicion, began to ease.
Moreover, she slightly nodded, even agreeing with his sentiment, making it all the more awkward to take back what he had said.
“Why was that?”
Because of this, instead of trying to retract his words, he continued the conversation with a question.
His inquiry lacked a subject, but without a moment’s hesitation, Pamiu understood what he meant and replied.
“I found it interesting.”
“Interesting.”
“Isn’t it the same for you, instructor? I just didn’t expect you to react this strongly.”
It was not about Dokkoran, but rather the creature.
The affairs of the Aurum and Lemal planets had long since become a hot potato within the United Synthesis of Humanity.
Yet, having read the assignment penned under the name of Dokoran, a smirk escaped her lips at the mere mention of interest.
‘Not quite on par with Baek Hwi-young, but nearly there.’
The difference lay in the fact that while Baek Hwi-young had deliberately listed only the established theories, she showed no hesitation in employing some radical methods.
Indeed, she was a strategist destined to lead the United Forces of Humanity, a true ‘efficiency expert’ devoid of reason.
Thud—.
Jin Crow halted his fingers, which had been drumming on the leather, and turned to her.
“You’ve heard about the newly established course, haven’t you?”
“Yes. It’s quite unusual for a course to be created, so there’s been a lot of talk. I hear Rando is applying as well…”
“She’s already applied. Over two hundred applicants have flocked in, besides her.”
It was not mere bravado; it was the truth.
Of course, with about 1,500 cadets in each year and the course not being a regular one, it was hard to call it popular, but even so, it was by no means a small number.
“Two hundred.”
She, too, recognized this, her expression betraying surprise at the higher-than-expected figure.
“It will only increase from here. As you said, the stirrings of the creatures are no trivial matter, and the limitations of the planetary defense forces have been proven by the previous two cases.”
No matter how brilliant she was, a shocking future awaited that she could not foresee.
At Jin Crow’s confident assertion, Pamiu twitched her eyebrows slightly, then mulled over her lips a few times before asking him.
“What is it you wish to say?”
“Apply for the newly established course.”
“Excuse me?”
Though she had anticipated it, the proposal was riddled with questions.
However, the answer was already set in stone.
With so much on her plate, she had no intention of wasting time on a course about cosmic monsters.
“…I appreciate the suggestion, but—”
“Just so you know.”
Yet, her refusal was swiftly thwarted by Jin Crow, who added with an unfazed expression.
“If it were a mistake, that would be one thing, but intentionally pushing an attack towards a place with instructors would be hard to brush off as a mere penalty.”
“Out of gratitude, I will certainly submit my application.”
Pamiu, true to her sharp intellect, quickly chose to yield, bowing her head, while inwardly she thought.
‘…What a petty person.’
It seemed I would have to cut back on sleep a little more.
*
An unexpected lecture by Jin Crow during the semester. “Understanding Cosmic Beasts” had been successfully established.
“…Here is the list of cadets.”
Jin Crow opened the file without even glancing at Ginatios, who was handing over the cadet materials, forcing a neutral expression.
–
1. Baek Hwi-young (Martial Arts Division)
2. Miel Anver (Powers Division)
3. Dokgo Ran (Martial Arts Division)
4. Famiyu Dimejeahr (Powers Division)
5. Hino Kanae (Martial Arts Division)
…(omitted)…
98. Walker Bitrant (Martial Arts Division)
99. Yu Seol-ye (Martial Arts Division)
100. Beatus (Martial Arts Division)
–
A staggering 347 cadets had applied for the lecture, but since it was being piloted as a linked course, the limit was set to one hundred.
What surprised me was the unexpectedly large number from the Martial Arts Division, and that Hino Kanae had applied as well.
‘No, perhaps it’s not so surprising.’
Hino Kanae was an anomaly.
Not only had she grown up as a de facto noble in a nation that professed democracy, but she was also born into a political family, dreaming of becoming a soldier while revering the martial way.
‘I think I have a rough idea of what she’s thinking.’
In any case, it wasn’t a bad thing.
Miel Anver was also unexpected, but if she applied following Baek Hwi-young, it wasn’t entirely unreasonable.
At that moment, Ginatios, sitting on the sofa in the instructor’s office with an uncomfortable expression, spoke up.
“…That’s surprising.”
“What is?”
Jin Crow asked back, still scanning the list of cadets, and Ginatios let out a sound of mild exasperation, as if to say ‘hmm.’
“That the assistant instructor is me again. It can’t be a pleasant thing, can it?”
“Oh, is that what you meant?”
He set down the device he held with a thud.
The paper-like texture was strikingly impressive.
Jin Crow gazed at him and spoke.
“It’s a matter that can be discussed with the principal. Since you’re aware, there’s no reason to be displeased or to welcome it.”
“Is that so?”
Though there was no counterargument, he nodded, still wearing a look of confusion.
Of course, Ideale hadn’t mentioned anything about assigning Ginatio as an assistant instructor.
‘But I expected it.’
Not long ago, the instructor had been riddled with issues, regardless of his skills, and now he was to take on a course that combined theory with practical experience, even if it involved facing monsters.
No matter how unavoidable the deal was, from Ideale’s perspective, which leaned toward the righteous, it would surely drain the blood from his face.
Wasn’t it rather nonsensical not to have a watchful eye nearby?
“Since you’re here, I thought we might share opinions on the lecture. Is that also inconvenient?”
“……That would be impossible.”
Ginatios’s expression still bore a hint of reluctance, but he maintained a stance of doing what needed to be done.
Jin Crow nodded once at his somewhat cooperative demeanor, then, with a cigarette in his mouth, handed him the prearranged curriculum.
“What’s this?”
“I’d like you to review it, and if there are no issues, proceed as is.”
Instructor Ginatio accepted it with a troubled expression, but Jin Crow felt confident.
There couldn’t possibly be a problem.
He had restructured the curriculum, recalling it as it had flowed in the original, adjusting it to fit the current situation as best as he could.
“This, this is…”
As expected, Ginatio’s mouth dropped open as he read through the curriculum, and Jin Crow prepared to savor the admiration that would soon follow, a satisfied smile creeping onto his face.
His head lifted with a creak.
In his characteristic brown eyes, shock glimmered, and soon a single word slipped from his lips.
“……Excuse me, but do you wish to be discharged from the barracks?”
“Pardon?”
His reaction was precisely the opposite of what Jin Crow had anticipated.
Because of that, Jin Crow blinked for a moment, then stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray and scrutinized the contents in Ginatio’s hands once more.
‘There shouldn’t be a problem?’
As I glanced at him, wondering if perhaps I had seen another file, Gianatio furrowed his brow, unsure of where to begin, before finally speaking.
“…What is the content of the first lecture?”
“Inspection of the front lines.”
“…What is the target area?”
“Some of the reclaimed front lines on the planet Remal.”
“Have you lost your mind?!”
It was then that Jin Crow realized the gap in understanding between him and Gianatio.
‘…Ah, they’re not finished yet, are they?’
Yet, he felt no particular need to correct it.
At least in this world, inspecting the front lines was a schedule that cadets undertook quite frequently, regardless of their year, and for now, instilling the terror of creatures was the top priority over theories or combat methods.
“It’s not allowed!”
“It is.”
“It’s not allowed!”
“It is.”
In the end, Jin Crow and Gianatio engaged in an hour-long debate.
“What is this commotion?”
“Headmaster! H-how did you get here… But more importantly, look at this. Instructor Jin Crow has finally gone mad…!”
“…Are you in your right mind?”
Ultimately, due to Ideale’s intervention, who had come for a different reason, they could only reach an agreement to request a few corpses captured for research purposes from the front lines.
“…Tch, I will concede this time.”
Jin Crow pouted, and at that sight, Ideale and Gianatio exchanged glances, thinking.
‘…Headmaster.’
‘Indeed.’
‘Perhaps it would have been a better choice to let Jin Crow drown in his own madness?’